Mrs. Carolyn Laird Raybuck, 85, died Monday, June 20, 2016 at Bermuda Commons Nursing Home in Advance after several years of declining health.

She was born April 22, 1931 in Mocksville, the youngest daughter of the late Alvis Martin and Lelia Mae Howard Laird. She graduated from Mocksville High School, Class of 1949, and obtained civilian employment with the U.S. Navy in officer records at the Navy Annex in Washington, DC where she met the love of her life, Edward Alexander Raybuck, a young sailor from Dubois, Pa. They were married at Arlington, Va. on June 24, 1950. Following his sea service in the Korean War, they moved to Advance where they built a house on her parent’s farm on the Redland Road, and she obtained employment with McLean’s Trucking Co., and he with Western Electric. They were active members of Bethlehem United Methodist Church where in the 1950s they were counselors for the church’s Methodist Youth Fellowship. She served on the church’s parsonage committee in the 1960s. In 1959, they became square dancers and had associations with the Twin City Twirlers, Raybuck’s Rounds, the Quadrille Club, and Happy Hoppers all of Winston-Salem. They were active in the Tory Oak Twirlers of Wilkesboro, and the Blue Ridge Odd Steppers of Mount Airy. She danced and Ed called the square dance in Joe King’s 1975 movie production, “Somebody Moved My Mountain.” They traveled the country with square dancing, with Ed calling and Carolyn teaching the dances. They established Raybuck’s Record Service, through which they sold square dance records and clothing. On Nov. 20, 1982, they were inducted into the Hall of Fame of the Folk, Round, Square Dance Federation of North Carolina. They were the first round dance instructors to receive this honor. Without children of their own, they had 10 nieces and 13 nephews.

She was also preceded in death by: her sisters Mattie Lois Myers (Ray Myers), and Mildred McDaniel (Clarence McDaniel); 2 nephews, Brady McDaniel and Bryan Raybuck; and her husband of 50 years.

Survivors: 2 close nephews: Jimmy Laird Myers of Advance and Thomas Ray Myers (Diane) of Charlottesville, Va.; a close niece, Marla Lois Myers of Advance; a great-nephew, Troy Taylor (Michele) of Wilmington; 3 great nieces, Shanna Taylor of Asheville, Katherine Myers of Newport News, Va., Carolyn Myers (her namesake) of Charlottesville, Va.; a great-great nephew, Tristan Taylor,  and a great-great niece, Cailyn Taylor, both of Wilmington.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 25, at Bethlehem United Methodist Church, Advance with Dr. Chuck Baker officiating. After burial in the church cemetery, the family will greet friends and relatives in the Family Life Center .

Memorials: Bethlehem UMC, 321 Redland Road, Advance; or to the charity of one’s choice.

Condolences: www.hayworth-miller.com.